Slug gun considerations???

[NorseNW]

Looking at getting a dedicated rifled slug gun for blacktail deer in firearm restricted unit and wondering if you folks have any suggestions or other thoughts I haven't come up with in my debate.  I currently have a 12 ga Mossberg 500 (my go to for pheasant hunts) which has a rifled slug barrel and some cheap scope on it.  My dad bought this for me years ago.  We didn't have much money at the time thus the affordable platform and cheap scope.  I hunted deer with it in NY in firearms restricted units.  That was about 20 years ago and I have never used the slug barrel again because I haven't come across the need.  From what I remember shooting it was less than enjoyable (3" rifled slug ammo).  I don't claim to be a man's man when it comes to magnum cartridges but I've done my share of shooting and can generally handle it.  If I don't have to though - I don't really need to pound the day lights out of myself.

For background I'm not a long distance shot taker.  I'm not looking to take 200 yard slug gun shots.  I'm a 100 yard shot kind of guy.  Probably more like 50 but if the platform was capable and I had confidence I would like the option to push it to 100 yards.

My theory is to get a  dedicated 20 ga rifled slug gun.

Options I've come up with including pros/cons:

20 ga Mossberg 500 with rifled slug barrel - about $500
Pros
familiar shooting platform to what I have
affordable
quick follow up shots
Cons
rattle of pump action when moving

T/C Encore Pro Hunter Slug - about $900
Pros
possibly more accurate
simple action / ease of cleaning
Cons
expensive
slow follow up shot

I've found the perfect gun does not exist so that is why I did't do the which is best.  I'm just looking for peoples experiences to add to the decision making process.  The affordability part is not that big of a factor for me.  If I end up leaning toward the T/C the extra money probably would not stop me from purchasing.

Thanks for any insight ya'll may have.

[Magnum_Willys]

You have the perfect slug gun.  Try a couple different sabot slugs.   I had same mossberg rifles slug barrel and with winchester sabot slugs was tackdriver .  Good to 200 yards.

[snake]

You have the perfect slug gun.  Try a couple different sabot slugs.   I had same mossberg rifles slug barrel and with winchester sabot slugs was tackdriver .  Good to 200 yards.

I was just typing the same thing.  You have exactly what you are looking for.  You do not need expensive optics. if you want to upgrade your scope, throw on a vortex 3x9. I believe they are still only a couple hundred bucks.  If your barrel is riffled, you need sabot slugs. If the barrel is smooth bore, then you will need to buy rifled slugs. I've never had any problem with a pump rattling while I walk.

[snake]

If the 3" slugs kick too much try going down to 2 3/4" and trying different brands.  The hardest kicking gun I have ever shot in my life was a youth model 20 gauge with 3" slugs. The gun was as light as a feather.

[huntnphool]

  @M_ray killed his Montana buck with one this year, he really likes it. I’ll get him to chime in.

[Mulie87]

I’ve been looking at the Savage 212 bolt gun

[Magnum_Willys]

My son shot a big whitetail at 185 yds offhand in Iowa with this shotgun and sabot slugs quite a few years ago.   Mushroom was perfect.

[bb76]

Keep the Mossberg and shoot 2 3/4 shells. I have taken several deer in firearms restricted areas with mine. Hardly notice the recoil when connecting with deer.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[carpsniperg2]

I have a browning bolt action slug gun. I picked up on a crazy good deal. It’s a shooter. Never thought I would own one but glad I do. I don’t know if they even make them anymore. I need to shoot something with mine! Other then steel lol

[spoonman]

I’ve been hunting with a Mossberg 930 slugster for some time now and I can pretty much hit what I want out to 200 but prefer my hunting shots closer. Killed a blacktail last year at 97 yards and the year before at 76. Semi auto and not a ton of recoil.

[northwesthunter84]

I shoot a Winchester SX2 12 ga with Hornady SST’s. 2.75” at 2000 FPS. I zero my slug gun for 150 per manufactures recommendation. They don’t kick bad and the deer generally anchor the deer right on the spot. If I were getting a new slug gun I would look hard at the Stoeger semi auto. I shot the buck that’s my avatar this year in Illinois with my setup. My dad runs a Remington 1100 slug gun or a Browning BPS. A lot of other guys run 870’s or the Savage bolt shotguns.  I’ve also seen quite a few killed with a Mossberg. Good ammo options are the Remington Accutips, Hornady SST’s, Hornady SST light recoils( I haven’t personally shot those), Lightfields, Winchester partition golds.

[NorseNW]

Well how about that - I don't "need" another gun!  I appreciate the feedback.  I will give the 2 3/4" ammo a try (hopefully not all of that has been purchased yet).  I still may upgrade the optics that are on it.  I can't even determine the maker of it and the glass is not particularly fabulous on it.

[M_ray]

  @M_ray killed his Montana buck with one this year, he really likes it. I’ll get him to chime in.

I have both the guns you have mentioned with the exception being my Mossberg 500 is 12g. But I do have the slug barrel and smooth barrel for birds. The past two years I have shot both my Montana bucks with my 20g TC Encore. I personally would get the TC, mine is topped with the Nikon slughunter BDC and it’s deadly accurate. Phool watched me heart shoot mine this year. It was quartering you me and the only shot I had was to tuck it under the armpit for a heart shot so I did. It’s hard to find a slug gun you can have that confidence in, I would have had to wait for a broadside double lung shot with the Mossberg. My avitar pic is my last years buck shot also with the TC. BTW Nikon says the slughunter BDC is accurate to 200 and beyond but I e heard of guys in the Midwest taking deer out to 3-350.

[jdb]

  @M_ray killed his Montana buck with one this year, he really likes it. I’ll get him to chime in.

I have both the guns you have mentioned with the exception being my Mossberg 500 is 12g. But I do have the slug barrel and smooth barrel for birds. The past two years I have shot both my Montana bucks with my 20g TC Encore. I personally would get the TC, mine is topped with the Nikon slughunter BDC and it’s deadly accurate. Phool watched me heart shoot mine this year. It was quartering you me and the only shot I had was to tuck it under the armpit for a heart shot so I did. It’s hard to find a slug gun you can have that confidence in, I would have had to wait for a broadside double lung shot with the Mossberg. My avitar pic is my last years buck shot also with the TC. BTW Nikon says the slughunter BDC is accurate to 200 and beyond but I e heard of guys in the Midwest taking deer out to 3-350.

much respect man! I truly appreciate the fact that your taking a gun on an out of state hunt that is somewhat limiting. I wish more hunters followed your lead!

[NWghostgetter]

I've used the Mossberg 500in 12ga with the cantilever barrel and it wsd very accurate. This year I bought a CVA .50cal and used it during modern rifle with a scope. It was incredibly accurate to 200 yards. I will, at some point buy savage 220 since I live in a firearm restriction zone.

[M_ray]

  @M_ray killed his Montana buck with one this year, he really likes it. I’ll get him to chime in.

I have both the guns you have mentioned with the exception being my Mossberg 500 is 12g. But I do have the slug barrel and smooth barrel for birds. The past two years I have shot both my Montana bucks with my 20g TC Encore. I personally would get the TC, mine is topped with the Nikon slughunter BDC and it’s deadly accurate. Phool watched me heart shoot mine this year. It was quartering you me and the only shot I had was to tuck it under the armpit for a heart shot so I did. It’s hard to find a slug gun you can have that confidence in, I would have had to wait for a broadside double lung shot with the Mossberg. My avitar pic is my last years buck shot also with the TC. BTW Nikon says the slughunter BDC is accurate to 200 and beyond but I e heard of guys in the Midwest taking deer out to 3-350.

much respect man! I truly appreciate the fact that your taking a gun on an out of state hunt that is somewhat limiting. I wish more hunters followed your lead!

I appreciate that, thank you. Here is this years buck

[Widgeondeke]

If you didn't already have a gun. 
My suggestion would be to find a used H&R Ultra Slug gun in 20ga. I have one with the Nikon scope mentioned above and I'm confident to 150yds. Its killed 5 island deer from 70-120yds shooting Hornady SSTs. Only complaint is every shot was thru & thru, never found a slug 

[haftard]

Ohhhh boy. I tell you what we got abouts the same story just without a 20 year gap.
My old man bought me a rifled barrel for my mossberg 500. It killed a deer and you could hit paper but that thing was so god damn finnicky. One day it shoots clover leafs the nest day barrly 5in group.  So i ditched the pump slug game. My dad and brother have the h&r single shot slug guns and they are nice but the trigger is junk. And they didnt group well (from what i recall).
Now i went and bought a savage 212. This god damn thing is my go too gun i tell you what. It will shoot a clover leaf at 100 with the hornady sst. And i can hit steel no problem at 200. And 300 is very doable if every thing is perfect. But here is the deal. It kicks like a SOB. But i will grab this thing to hunt with any day of the week and any where in the state.
For you tho i would look into savage 220. If you only plan on hunting deer with it and keeping things under 200 yard the 20g is perfered over the 12g imo. Or if you dont wanna spend that much the cva hunter( its a cva for sure idk if its the hunter or not) comes ina 20g sug gun. They might come in a 12g too. I wouldnt hesitate to buy the cva if i didmt have the savage already.

Good luck.
Also the look on peoples faces when i ring steel at 300 yards is priceless when,a plastic shell hits thr groind

[NiteHawk]

If you didn't already have a gun. 
My suggestion would be to find a used H&R Ultra Slug gun in 20ga. I have one with the Nikon scope mentioned above and I'm confident to 150yds. Its killed 5 island deer from 70-120yds shooting Hornady SSTs. Only complaint is every shot was thru & thru, never found a slug 

I thought about getting a H&R but it seemed like they were $500-$600 used. I went with the Henry Single Shot 12GA rifled barrel and landed it at my FFL for $500 all-in brand spanking new. https://www.henryusa.com/shotgun/single-shot-slug-barrel-shotgun/

I may not even scope this fire arm depending on how the fiber optic iron sights perform. Interested to see if anyone else has feedback on this Henry Rifled 12ga.

[msg]

I have two of the Savage 212 bolt guns, the newer one has a detachable clip which is an upgrade from the straight box magazine. They kick a bit, especially laying down. Don't feel a thing standing shooting at an animal. The worst were the Winchester XP3 3" 300 grain. The clerk in the store in Idaho warned me about them. I liked the Remington 3" 375 grain Core-Lokt Ultra. For some reason they quit making them. I haven't used them for deer but slug guns are hell on elk. For pure beauty, the Ithaca is that. Also expensive and heavy. Good U Tube video on accuracy and probably would not kick as much due to weight.

[JasonG]

Savage 220 20 gauge tack driver!